DATA SHEET

Visitor and Community Network System

Key Benefits

Platform for Broadband Access and

Value-Added Services

Customer premises-based system

with the power and flexibility to
deliver high-speed Internet access plus
bandwidth-intensive, value-added
services (Web portal-based services,
DVD-quality video on demand, IP telephony, business and consumer
applications, etc).
Fast, Low-Cost, Nondisruptive
Installation

The VCN System runs over commonly

installed single twisted-pair copper
telephone wiring (Category 1 through
Category 4) to avoid the cost and
inconvenience of rewiring a facility.
Dramatically cuts time to install and
provision new subscribers. Also,
compatible with Category 5 cabling
typically deployed in new buildings.

Next-generation
broadband for
hospitality, MTU,
and MDU
applications

Competitive pressures require that

hotel, commercial, and residential
property owners satisfy their
customers growing demand for
premium-quality Internet access and
content-rich network-based services.
Likewise, service providers for those
facility owners require networking
systems that are radically simplelow
cost, easy to install, and easy to expand
with value-added services.
3Comthe worldwide market leader in
Ethernet technologyoffers its Visitor

Flexible

Compatible with routers, modems, and a

variety of last mile technologies.
Easy Provisioning and Low
Administrative Overhead

Automatically recognizes users upon

login and self-provisions IP and other
network services. Includes easy-to-use
software for provisioning new services.
Seamlessly Integrates with Billing Systems

Built-in interfaces for property

management, billing, and credit authorization systems. Also enables usage
tracking.
Always-On, Easy-to-Use

Instantly connects any Ethernetequipped computer to the Internet

and property-based content and
serviceswithout dialing, adding
software, or reconfiguration.

and Community Network (VCN) System

to satisfy these demands.
The system provides a complete
networking approach for hospitality,
multi-tenant unit (MTU), multi-dwelling
unit (MDU), and public spaces. Based
on Ethernet-over-VDSL technology, the
3Com VCN System runs over existing
single twisted-pair telephone wiring to
cut costs and maintain simplicity.
Simultaneously supporting voice,
video, and data at full-duplex 10 Mbps,
the system is a platform for customer-

VISITOR AND COMMUNITY NETWORK SYSTEM

loyalty and revenue-generating

services, such as:
Instant, always-on, and secure, highspeed Internet access
E-mail and virtual private network
access

Access to:
property-specific information and
services
consumer applications, such as
DVD-quality video on demand,
online gaming
business (ASP) applications

LAN printing and file sharing

Radically simple
installation and
provisioning
streamlines
deployment.

IP telephony and videoconferencing

3Com VCN System Components

VCN Access Concentrator

VCN Access Point

The 3Com VCN Access Point is a

compact device that simultaneously connects a laptop or desktop computer and
a telephone to the network via industrystandard RJ-45 connectors. The access
point delivers full-duplex 10 Mbps
Ethernet bandwidth, supported by
3Coms Ethernet-over-VDSL technology.
It can send and receive toll-quality voice
and 10 Mbps switched Ethernet data
frames for distances in excess of 4,000
feet (1,219 meters). 3Com VCN Access
Points can also make use of other 3Com
technologies to extend benefits. For
example, users can connect the access
point to 3Coms wireless LAN products
to enable access in areas where wall-jack
connections are not available.

The 3Com VCN Access Concentrator

aggregates the input from up to 24 VCN
Access Points, forwarding voice traffic
to the building PBX and sending
Ethernet data packets for further processing. The VCN Access Concentrator
contains 24 ports; multiple concentrators can be stacked and daisy-chained
together for larger installations. Internal

signaling technology permits the VCN

Access Concentrator to transmit
Ethernet over VDSL to access points up
to 4,000 feet (1,219 meters) away.

Pictured from top to bottom:

VCN Access Point, VCN Service Switches (2),
VCN Concentrator, and VCN Server.

VISITOR AND COMMUNITY NETWORK SYSTEM

Industry-innovator SolutionInc of
Halifax, Canada developed the 3Com
VCN Server. 3Com VCN Access Points,
VCN Access Concentrators, and VCN
Service Switches are compatible with
servers from other vendors.

The VCN System

is a platform for
creating valueadded service
revenue.

VCN Server

The 3Com VCN Server simplifies

broadband service installation and
usage through automated features and
easy-to-use browser-based provisioning
screens. It provides users with a welcome page that takes them through
simple steps to register and connect
without reconfiguring their PC or the
network. The VCN Server automatically
provisions IP addresses and services on
a per-user basis. In conjunction with
3Com Service Switches, the VCN Server
enables the creation of service domains
to provision services (video-on-demand,
file sharing, etc.) via simple point-andclick commands with no need for
technical assistance.
The VCN Server features the ultimate in
billing flexibility, allowing property
managers to bill by the minute, day, byte,
or data rate. It also includes interfaces to
property management/billing and credit
card payment systems. After signing on
to an initial registration page, users are
automatically routed to a local portal,
designed and hosted by the service
provider or property. This portal can provide information and a service selection
menu for users. The portal can be a focal
point for generating incremental revenue
for the service provider and/or property.

Based on its innovative technology, the

3Com VCN System earned the Product of
the Year award for 2000 from Computer
Telephony magazine.

VCN Service Switch 10 and Switch

100 Mbps

VCN Service Switches deliver high

performance, full-duplex 10 and 100
Mbps Ethernet required for premium
broadband access and for the new
generation of value-added revenuegenerating services (such as video on
demand and IP telephony).

The VCN Service Switches include

advanced software to create "service
domains" for specifying services and
assigning users to those services. The
basic service domaina built-in default
conditionis port-to-port security that
ensures data privacy for every user. The
switches service domain software also
makes it easy to provision new services
(such as online gaming) for the network.
In turn, the VCN Server displays a nontechnical, easy-to-use graphic interface to
assign users or groups of users to any
given service domain. Once a user is
assigned a service, the system automatically provisions the user for that service
upon logging in to the network.
Based on industry-leading 3Com
SuperStack II technology, the 3Com
Service Switches support remote
management and are equipped with
redundant power supplies. The
switches are available in Ethernet and
Fast Ethernet versions to permit
network administrators to establish
performance hierarchies within large
VCN installations.

VISITOR AND COMMUNITY NETWORK SYSTEM

3Com SIP-based phones and proxy

server, for advanced voice-over-IP
telephonybased on the proposed
IETF RFC 2543 (Session Initiation
Protocol) and designed specifically for
service providers to initiate, manage,
and terminate interactive sessions,
such as voice, across a WAN.

Complementary 3Com
Solutions
3Com offers a range of value-added
networking solutions for visitor and
community networking, including:

3Com VCN
Systems can scale
from very small to
extremely large
buildings,
handling hundreds
of users.

3Com OfficeConnect LAN switches,

for extending Ethernet LAN services
within a single multi-tenant unit.
Low cost. Powerful. Stackable. Small
footprint.

3Com NBX 100 communications

system for LAN telephony, integrating a robust call processing feature
set with standards-based, Ethernet
technology in a powerful business
telephone system.

3Com AirConnect 11 Mbps Wireless

LAN, for simple, fast, and manageable
network access in public areas where
desk or wall jack connectivity is
not available. Based on the 802.11b
industry standard.

RJ-11

VCN

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3Com HomeConnect PC Digital

camera for live video phone calls,
including e-mail video postcards.

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The 3Com VCN System is an innovative and

complete system for high-speed data networking
over existing copper telephone lines in hotels,
multi-tenant office buildings, and multi-dwelling
residential complexes. The system provides instant,
secure, and always-on Internet access and Ethernet
LAN service. Field-proven and easy to install and
maintain, the system is used by property management companies and service providers worldwide
to build profitably through new network-based
guest and tenant services.

VISITOR AND COMMUNITY NETWORK SYSTEM

Specifications

System Compatibility and

Conformance

Standard single-pair phone

wiring, Category 1 to 5 loop
length up to 4,000 feet (1,219
meters)
Full Ethernet IEEE 802.3
conformance
10 Mbps full duplex
10BASE-T RJ-45 interface
All Ethernet-based protocols
(TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, AppleTalk,
etc.)
Supports laptop or desktop
computers equipped with a
standard 10BASE-T Ethernet
NIC and TCP/IP software.
VCN Access Point

Line Data Rate: Up to 10 Mbps,

symmetric

Power Supply

Mains: 110 W for 110 V (steady

state, full traffic), 120 W for
220 V (steady state, full traffic),
90-240 VAC, 47-60 Hz, 120 W

AC Line Frequency 50/60 Hz

Standards Compliance

Safety: UL 1950, C-UL,

FCC/ICES, EN 60950
EMC: FCC 47 CFR part 15, Class
A, AS/NZS 3548, VCCI Class A,
CISPR 22 Class A, CAN/CSACISPR 22 Class A
Ethernet: IEEE 802.3, 802.1q,
1,536 bytes maximum frame
length
Private Branch Exchange (PBX):
Analog
Management on each CO card
Interface: 1 RS-232 port

Input Voltage Options 90240

VAC
Current Rating 3A (maximum)
Standards Supported

SNMP
SNMP protocol (RFC 1157)
MIB-II (RFC 1213)
Bridge MIB (RFC 1493)*
RMON MIB (RFC 1271)
Terminal Emulation

Telnet (RFC 854)

Administration Protocols

UDP (RFC 768)

IP (RFC 791)

Agency Certifications: UL, C-UL

ICMP (RFC 792)

Environmental Operating
Temperature: 0- 60C

TCP (RFC 793)

Relative Humidity: 95%

noncondensing

TFTP (RFC 783)

VCN Service Switch 10 and

Switch 100

Physical Dimensions

Power Requirements

VCN AP Mains

Physical Dimensions

Width: 483 mm (19 in)

90-260 AC, 47-63 Hz, 6 W

maximum

Height: 76 mm (3 in)

Depth: 300 mm (12 in)

Width: 483 mm (19 in)

Weight: 4 kg (8.8 lb)

AC/DC adapter

Depth: 300 mm (12 in)

3.3 VDC /1.5 A, 5 VDC /150 mA,

-5 VDC /50 mA

Weight: 4 kg (8.8 lb)

Range: Up to 4,000 ft
Cabling: Category 1 to
Category 5
Voice: Dial tone, toll quality,
PBX features support

Standards Compliance

Safety: UL 1950, C-UL, CSA22

No. 950, EN 60950, IEC 950,
TS-001
EMC: FCC Part 15 Class B,
AS/NZS 3548, VCCI Class B,
CISPR 22 Class B, CAN/CSACISPR 22 Class B, EN 55022
Class B, Amendment A1,
Amendment A2, EN 55024, IEC
61000-4-2 through 61000-4-6,
IEC 61000-4-11
Ethernet: IEEE 802.3
Management Interface:
1 RS-232 port
Environmental Operating
Temperature: 0- 50C
Relative Humidity:
95% noncondensing
VCN Access Concentrator

Line Data Rate: Up to 10 Mbps,

symmetric
Range: Up to 4,000 ft

Power Requirements

ARP (RFC 826)

BOOTP (RFC 951)

Height: 76 mm (3 in)

Environmental Requirements

Environmental Requirements

Operating Temperature:
0 to 50C (32 to 122F)

Operating Temperature:
0 to 50C (32 to 122F)

Storage Temperature:
10 to +70C (14 to 158F)

Storage Temperature:
10 to +70C (14 to 158F)

Operating Humidity:
1095% relative humidity,
noncondensing

Operating Humidity:
1095% relative humidity,
noncondensing
Standards EN 60068 (IEC 68)
Safety

Agency Certifications UL 1950,

EN 60950, CSA 22.2 No. 950,
IEC 950
EMC

Emissions EN 55022 Class B*,

FCC Part 15 subpart B Class A,
ICES-003 Class A, VCCI Class B*,
AS/NZS 3548 Class B*, CNS
13438 Class A
Immunity EN 50082-1
*Category 5 screened cables must be used to
ensure compliance with the class B requirements of this standard. The use of
unscreened cables (Category 3 or 5 for
10BASE-T ports or Category 5 for 100BASETX ports) complies with class A requirements.

Cabling: Category 1 to
Category 5

Heat Dissipation

Voice: Dial tone, toll quality,

PBX features support

171 W maximum (583 Btu/hour

maximum)

Standards EN 60068 (IEC 68)

Safety

Agency Certifications UL 1950,

EN 60950, CSA 22.2 No. 950,
IEC 950
EMC

Emissions EN 55022 Class B*,

FCC Part 15 subpart B Class A,
ICES-003 Class A, VCCI Class B*,
AS/NZS 3548 Class B*, CNS
13438 Class A
Immunity EN 50082-1
*Category 5 screened cables must be used to
ensure compliance with the class B requirements of this standard. The use of
unscreened cables (Category 3 or 5 for
10BASE-T ports or Category 5 for 100BASETX ports) complies with class A requirements.

Heat Dissipation

171 W maximum (583 Btu/hour

maximum)

VISITOR AND COMMUNITY NETWORK SYSTEM

Specifications, continued

Power Supply

VCN Server

One (1) SVGA Port

AC Line Frequency 50/60 Hz

Chassis: 2U rackmount case

with four internal drive bays
and one 5 1/4-inch drive bay 8

One (1) DB-9 COM 1 serial port

Input Voltage Options 90240

VAC

One (1) DB-9 COM 2 serial port

Two (2) 10/100 Ethernet ports

Current Rating 3A (maximum)

Mounting Kit: Front and rear, or

center mount kit

Standards Supported

Processor: Intel Pentium III 550

MHz

One (1) 400 W autosensing

Memory: 128 MB ECC SDRAM

(can be upgraded to 1 Gb ECC
SDRAM)

Voltage: 90-132, 180-264 AC

SNMP
SNMP protocol (RFC 1157)
MIB-II (RFC 1213)
Bridge MIB (RFC 1493)*
RMON MIB (RFC 1271)
Terminal Emulation
Telnet (RFC 854)
Administration Protocols

UDP (RFC 768)

Network Interface: Integrated

10/100 Ethernet
SCSI: Integrated one channel
Ultra2 LVD SCSI and one
channel ultrawide SCSI

Internal power supply

AC Frequency: 47-63 Hz b
Power Factor: 0.7
If the MDU service provider is
supplying hardware, it must be
sourced as outlined on the Red
Hat 6.1 authorized hardware
list.

Hard Drive: 6 Gb IDE

Minimum hardware
requirements are as follows:

IP (RFC 791)

Dimensions

ICMP (RFC 792)

Height: 8.85 cm (3.48 in)

TCP (RFC 793)

Width: 43.43 cm (17.10 in)

ARP (RFC 826)

Depth: 60.76 cm (23.92 in)

TFTP (RFC 783)

Weight: Maximum:
19.1 kg (42 lb)

BOOTP (RFC 951)

Power Supply

Input/Output Ports

CPU-PII or better, 4.5GB HD,

ultrawide SCSI controller,
128 MB memory, 2 PCI Ethernet,
external serial connectors,
rackmountable chassis, lockable
cover, fully redundant power
supply, Linux supported.

Two (2) PS2 ports

One (1) parallel port

Ordering Information

3Com VCN Access Point*

3Com VCN Access Point (24 pack)
3Com VCN Access Concentrator

3CV1001
3CV1001-24PK
3CV1100

3Com VCN Service Switch 10

24 10BASE-T ports

3CV2010

3Com VCN Service Switch 100

24 100BASE-T ports

3Com VCN Server

SolutionIP Hospitality VBN Server

3CV4001

SolutionIP MDU VBN Server

3CV4002

SolutionIP MTU VBN Server

3CV4003

SolutionIP Hardware Demo VBN Server

3CV4004

SolutionIP Software Demo VBN Server

3CV4005

3CV2100

*The VCN access point is available in two packaging types: a single unit
package and a 24-unit package (to match a single VCN access concentrator).

3Com Corporation, Corporate Headquarters, 5400 Bayfront Plaza, P.O. Box 58145, Santa Clara, CA 95052-8145
To learn more about 3Com solutions, visit www.3com.com. 3Com Corporation is publicly traded on Nasdaq under the
symbol COMS.

Copyright 2001 3Com Corporation. All rights reserved. 3Com, AirConnect, NBX, OfficeConnect, and SuperStack
are registered trademarks and the 3Com logo and HomeConnect are trademarks of 3Com Corporation. AppleTalk is a
trademark of Apple Computer. IPX is a trademark of Novell. All other company and product names may be trademarks
of their respective companies.
Printed in the U.S.A.

400582-002 01/01